The New Orleans Saints went into the offseason in dire salary cap constraints, but now sit in prime position to lure some of the top free agent names still on the market.
That cap space has been brought about through a series of savvy cost-cutting moves, contract restructures and extensions. The latest of those was in the form of a 5-year, $96 million extension for right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, who was scheduled to play on a 5th-year option in the 2021 season.
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Ramczyk's contract, which makes him the highest-paid right tackle in the NFL, was predictably backloaded and frees up $5.5 million for the Saints against this season's salary cap.
The deal reduces Ramczyk's salary for the 2021 season to just $1.7 million, with $60 million of the contract fully guaranteed. He’ll earn
The move comes weeks after the Saints saved about $9 million by converting a majority of Marshon Lattimore's 5th-year option to a roster bonus, roughly $6 million of which was used to sign this year's rookie class.
In all the moves position the Saints to be a major player in the free agent market as training camp approaches, with somewhere in the range of $10 million to use to lure veterans to New Orleans to fill any perceived roster holes. The most likely position to target would appear to be cornerback, where the Saints are thin behind Marshon Lattimore on the outside after the departure of Janoris Jenkins. Veteran Patrick Robinson and rookie Paulson Adebo appear to be the most likely candidates to see significant time on the outside should the Saints choose not to add depth at the position.
The Saints' best option to free up a bit more cap space, should they choose, would be to sign safety Marcus Williams to an extension. He is currently scheduled to play the 2021 season under the franchise tag, which will pay just over $10 million.
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Saints GM Mickey Loomis has said the Saints would be interested in adding cornerback depth if a situation fits what the team is looking for. Currently the only reported visit has been by former Bengals and Cardinals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick.
If the Saints choose to look at linebacker, a familiar face could end up being a prime option. Kwon Alexander was cut this offseason following an Achilles tear suffered weeks after the Saints acquired him from the San Francisco 49ers. He's been regularly posting videos showing his workouts as he rehabs, and could get the call to add depth at linebacker. The position group also includes a rookie, Pete Werner, and a second-year player in Zack Baun.